International Journal of Agricultural

Science and Research (IJASR)

ISSN(P): 2250-0057; ISSN(E): 2321-0087
Vol. 7, Issue 3, Jun 2017, 189-196
TJPRC Pvt. Ltd.

BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION THROUGH RELIGIOUS BELIVES IN SACRED

GROVES OF JABALPUR FOREST DIVISION (MADHYA PRADESH)

RUBY RAI DUGGAL1, S. K. MASIH2 & R. P. MISHRA3

1
Department of Postgraduate Studies and Research in Biological Science
Rani Durgavati University, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, India
2
State Forest Research Institute, Polipathar, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, India
3
Department of Postgraduate Studies and Research in Biological Science
Rani Durgavati University, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, India
ABSTRACT

Sacred Groves are the one form of nature worship, which is considered as Sacred Natural Sites. Significant
tradition of nature worship provides protection to patches of forests dedicated to deities and ancestral spirits by the tribal
and forest dwellers. The survey work was carried out from 2013-2016 in Jabalpur forest division, to assess the role of Phyto
diversity in existing sacred groves situated in the forest area. Historical background, ethnic belief and the socio-cultural
importance about sacred groves were collected from each sacred grove. Total 105 sacred groves had been identified from

Original Article
the seven forest ranges of Jabalpur forest division. The 129 plant species belonging to 56 families and 105 genuses are
conserved in these sacred groves, due to their socio-religious importance. According to their mode of use such as during
different pages, festivals and religious ceremonies are discussed in this paper, in detail.

KEYWORDS: Historical Background, Ethnic Beliefs & Socio Cultural

Received: Mar 31, 2017; Accepted: Apr 25, 2017; Published: May 15, 2017; Paper Id.: IJASRJUN201723

INTRODUCTION

Sacred groves are forest fragments of varyaing sizes, communally protected in the name of local gods and
goddess. Hunting and logging are strictly prohibited within these patches. Indian sacred groves have pre-Vedic
origin. Most of them are associated with indigenous and tribal communities, who most believe in divinity of nature
and natural resources. Sacred groves in India are sometimes associated with temples, monasteries, shrines and
burial grounds. Patnaik & Pandey (1998) defined sacred groves as culturally a living place of the deities and spirits
of the village, which protects them from calamities and bring prosperity and a patch of pristine forest, having well
conserved biodiversity. In return, the villagers regularly propitiate them by means of rituals, sacrifice on festivals or
seasons designated for the same.

These groves are scattered all over the country, and are referred by different names in different states.
According to Sukumaran & Jeeva (2008), sacred grove is a small area of land with a particular type of tree grown
on it, which is considered to be holy by the local human community. Sacred groves are groups of trees or patches of
vegetation protected by the local people through religious and cultural practices, evolved to minimize distraction.
The significant tradition of nature worship is that of providing protection to patches of forests dedicated to deities or
ancestral spirits. These vegetation patches have been designated as sacred groves (Patel & Patel, 2012).

Jabalpur is a district in Madhya Pradesh state. It lies between the latitudes 22 37" N to 22 50" N and

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190 Ruby Rai Duggal, S. K. Masih & R. P. Mishra

longitudes of 79 20" to 80 34" East. The area of the district is 5211 km. It is located in the watersheds of the Narmada
and the Son rivers. According to the 2011 census, the total population of the district is 2,463,289. According to Indian State
of Forest Report (ISFR, 2015), the total forest area of the Jabalpur forest division is 117000 ha, out of which, very dense
forest, moderately dense forest, open forest and scrub are 3600 ha, 51400 ha, 62000 ha and 15400 ha, respectively. As per
the Classification of the forest area of India (Champion and Seth, 1968), the forest area of Jabalpur forest division is
classified under the following classes:-

5AC1b: Southern tropical dry deciduous teak forests

5AC3: Southern tropical dry deciduous mixed forests

According to Working Plan of Jabalpur Forest Division, M. P. Forest Department (Sinha, 2005-06 to 2014-15), the
forest division is divided into seven forest ranges, namely Panagar, Kundam, Sihora, Jabalpur, Patan, Sapporo, and Bargi.
These seven ranges are having 81 beats and 345 compartments.

METHODOLOGY

Detailed field survey of existing sacred groves in the Jabalpur forest Division of Madhya Pradesh was carried out
from 2013 to 2016.

Each sacred grove had been visited individually and recorded by GPS location, photographs and detail
information regarding its forest range, name, type, management class, area (in m), age class (existence), deity of the grove,
other associated deity (if any), offerings, day of worship and plant diversity of the grove. Sacred groves are frequently
visited on major festivals celebrated there.

All plant species recorded from various sacred groves were identified and arranged family species wise, with the
help of Flora of British India Hookers (1872-1897); The Forest Flora of North-West and Central India Brandis &
Stewart (1874); Flora of Tamil Nadu Nair & Henry (1983). Flora of Jabalpur Oommachan & Shrivastava (1996);
Supplement to the Flora of Madhya Pradesh Khanna, Kumar, Dixit & Singh (2001); Flora of Madhya Pradesh Vol. 1
Verma, Balakrishan & Dixit (1993); Flora of Madhya Pradesh Vol. 2 Mudgal, Khanna & Hajra (1997); and Flora of
Madhya Pradesh Vol. 3 (Singh, Khanna, Mudgal & Dixit (2001).

RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

Sacred Groves

During the study, all seven ranges, namely Panagar, Kundam, Sihora, Jabalpur, Patan, Sapporo, and the barge
were visited to identify the existing sacred groves. Total 105 sacred groves have been identified from different beats and
forest compartments of these ranges. The highest number of sacred groves (24) has been identified from Kundam forest
ranges, whereas the lowest number of sacred groves (3) identified from a Patan forest range. The numbers of identifies
sacred groves in different ranges are shown in Table 1.

Table 1: No. of Identified Sacred Groves in different

Ranges of Jabalpur Forest Division
Name of Forest No. of Identified
S. No.
Range Sacred Groves
1 Bergi 23
2 Jabalpur 20

Impact Factor (JCC): 5.9857 NAAS Rating: 4.13

Biodiversity Conservation through Religious Belives in Sacred 191
Groves of Jabalpur Forest Division (Madhya Pradesh)

Table 1: Contd.,
3 Kundam 24
4 Panager 12
5 Patan 3
6 Sehpura 12
7 Sihora 11
Total 105

Plants of Socio-Religious Importance

During the survey work on existing sacred groves of Jabalpur forest division, an inventory was made of plant
species, having sacred and religious importance. Total 129 plant species belonging to 56 families and 105 genuses were
catalogued, out of which, some of them are tree, shrub, herb, climber and grass categories. The list of such recorded plant
species is given in Table 2 with botanical name, local name, part used and name of the festival and socio-religious
occasion and socio-religious importance of the species. A number of plant parts used for various religious occasions are
shown in Figure 1.

Table 2: Plants of Socio-Religious Importance

S. No. Botanical Name Local Name Part Used Socio-Religious Occasion
1 Acacia catechu Kattha, Khair Whole plant Agni deo pooja and Hawans
Apamarg,
2 Achyranthes aspera Branch Various faste
Chirchira
3 Actiniopteris radiata Morpankhi ghans Whole plant Harchat pooja
Savwan somwar, Maglagauri,
4 Aegle marmelos Bel Leaves, fruits Shiveratri pooja, Krishna and
janmashtami
5 Annona reticulata Ram phal Whole plant Worshiped as sacred plant
Durga, Lakshmi, Saraswati,
6 Annona squamosa Sheeta phal Fruit
Dashera and Gyaras pooja
Krishna janmashtami, Gudi
7 Anthocephalus cadamba Kadam Whole plant
padwa
8 Araca catechu Supari Fruit Mangala Gauri pooja
Basant Panchami, Janki navmi
9 Avena sterilis Jawa Branch, flower
and Shuki oaksh
Gudi padwa, Shiva pooja, Santaan
10 Azadirachta indica Neem Whole plant
saptmee
11 Bauhinia purpurea Keolar Flower Shiva pooja
12 Bauhinia vahlii Mahul Leaves Poojas
13 Bauhinia veriegate Kachnar Flower Shiva pooja, Santaan saptmee
14 Bixa orellana Latkan/Sindoor Fruit Various poojas
Punarnava/Pathar-
15 Boerhavia diffusa Whole plant Worshiped as sacred plant
chatta
16 Brassica copastris Sarson Seed Poornima, akshay tritiya
17 Bridelia retusa Kasai Whole plant Worshiped as sacred plant
18 Buchanania lanzan Achar Seed, branch Various pooja
Manglagauri, Ganesh pooja,
19 Butea monosperma Palash Whole plant Navratri, Shiv pooja. Poornima
akshay tritiya and Hal Shasthi
Manglagauri, Ganesh pooja,
20 Calatropis gigaintia Aak Flower, leaves
Navratri, Shiv pooja, Holi
Death occasion, Shivratri,
21 Calatropis procera Aak white, Madar Flower, leaves Bajarngbali, Manglagauri,
Navratri, Ganesh pooja
Shivaratri pooja, holi, Navratri
22 Cannabis sativa Bhang Whole plant
and for black magic

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192 Ruby Rai Duggal, S. K. Masih & R. P. Mishra

Table 2: Contd.,
23 Capparis sepiaris Andi, aundi Whole plant Holi pooja
24 Capsicum annum Mirchi Fruit Prosparity decoration
25 Carica papaya Papita Fruit Various poojas
26 Carissa carandas Karonda Fruit Various poojas
27 Cassia fistula Amaltas Whole plant Worshiped as sacred plant
28 Catharanthus roseus Sadasuhagan Flower Various poojas
29 Cicer arietinum Chana Fruit Shivratri, Bajarngbali pooja
Navratri, Shivratri poojas and for
30 Citrus aurantifolia Aterra neebu Fruit
black magic
Navratri, Shivratri poojas and for
31 Citrus medica Neembu Fruit
black magic
32 Cleome viscosa Hulhul Whole plant Poojas
Prosparity decoration, Marriage
33 Clitoria ternatea Aprajita Whole plant
ceremony
Various poojas specially Ganesh
34 Coccus nucifera Nariyal Fruit
and Mahalaxmi pooja
35 Curcuma angustifolia Tikhur Rhizome During faste
36 Curcuma caesia Kali haldi Whole plant Siddhi pooja
37 Curcuma domestica Jangli haldi Fruit Various poojas
38 Curcuma longum Haldi Fruit Applied to the forehead of gods
Hal Shasthi, Ganesh and
39 Cynodon dactylon Doob Whole plant Mahalaxmi pooja, prosparity
decoration
Rhizome powder is used as dhoop
40 Cyperus scariosus Nagarmotha Rhizome
during pooja.
41 Dalbergia sissoo Shisham Whole plant Various poojas
42 Datura metel Kala dhatura Fruit Shivaratri pooja
43 Datura stramonium Dhatura Fruit Shivaratri pooja
44 Delonix regia Gulmoher Flower Various poojas
45 Desmodium triflorum Teen patiya Whole plant Poojas
46 Desmostachya bipinnata Kush grass Whole plant Various religious ceremony
47 Dioscorea hispida Baichandi Whole plant Poojas
48 Diospyros melynoxylon Tendu Fruit Various pooja
49 Eclipta prostrate Bhringraj Whole plant Poojas
For Nakshatra shanty, to cover the
50 Elaeocarpus sphaericus Rudraksha Fruit, leaves
marriage mandap
51 Elephantopus scaber Ban tambaku Leaves Shivaratri pooja
52 Elettaria cardimomum Ilaychee Fruit Mangala Gauri pooja
53 Euphorbia hirta Dudhi Flower Poojas
54 Evolvulus elsinoides Sankhpushpi Flower Shiv pooja
Vad Savitri, Bar amavashya,
Satyanarayan, Ganesh Chaturthi,
55 Ficus bengalensis Bargad, Bar Whole plant
Durga pooja and to cover
marriage mandap
56 Ficus hispida Kagsha Whole plant Worshiped as sacred plant
57 Ficus racemosa Goolar Branch Hal Shasthi
Harchhath, Ganesh, Shani, Durga
58 Ficus religiosa Peepal Whole plant
and rishi pooja
Navratri, Anant pooja and in
59 Ficus virens Pakar Whole plant
Cremation
60 Flacourtia indica Kakai Whole plant Worshiped as sacred plant
61 Glericidia sepium Giripushpa Flower Various poojas
Kalihari, Harchat, Mahalaxmi and Anant
62 Gloriosa superba Leaves, flower
Kirkitchyau pooja
63 Gossypium hirsutum Kapas Fruit Poojas
64 Haldinia cordifolia Haldu Whole plant Worshiped as sacred plant

Impact Factor (JCC): 5.9857 NAAS Rating: 4.13

Biodiversity Conservation through Religious Belives in Sacred 193
Groves of Jabalpur Forest Division (Madhya Pradesh)

Table 2: Contd.,
65 Hibiscus rosa-sinensis Jasoon, Gurhal Flower Durga pooja, Laxmi pooja
66 Hiptage benghalensis Madhavi Lata Whole plant Worshiped as sacred plant
67 Indigofera pulchella Neel Whole plant Worshiped as sacred plant
Ganesh Chaturthi vrata, Tulsi
68 Ipomoea batas Sakarkand Rhizome vivah, Satyanarayan katha and
Mahalaxmi pooja
69 Ixora coccinea Rugmini, Red star Flower Shiv pooja
70 Jasminum grandiflorum Chameli Flower Many religious occasions
71 Jasminum officinalis Chadni Flower Various poojas
72 Jasminum sambac Bela Flower Many poojas
Ratanjot, safed
73 Jatropha curcas Flower Many poojas
arund
74 Lannea coromandelica Moyan Whole plant Worshiped as sacred plant
Durga pooja, Rakhshabandan,
75 Lausonia inermis Mehendi Leaves
Marrige ceremony
76 Limonia acidissima Kaitha Fruit Mahashivratri pooja
Harchhath, Anant and Druga
77 Madhuca latifolia Mahua Whole plant
pooja
78 Mallotus philippensis Sinduri Fruit Various poojas
Mangalagauri, Basant Panchami,
79 Mangifera indica Aam, Mango Leaves, flower Navratri, Anant and Srikrishna
pooja
80 Michelia champaca Sone champa Flower Shivratri, Navratri pooja
81 Mimusops elengi Maulsari Whole plant Worshiped as sacred plant
82 Mirabilis jalapa Gulbans Flower Various poojas
83 Mitragyna parvifolia Mundi Whole plant Worshiped as sacred plant
84 Morus australis Shahtut Fruit Various poojas
85 Murraya paniculata madhukamini Whole plant Various poojas
Devthan pooja, Ahoeashtami,
86 Musa paradisiaca Kela Whole plant
Tulsi vivah and for getting child
harchhat, Lakshmi, Saraswati,
87 Nelumbium nucifera Kamal, Lotus Flower
Vishnu and Brahma pooja
Mahashivratri pooja, Cremation
88 Nerium indicum Kaner Leaves
and in Decoration
Hartalica, Ashokashtami and
89 Nyctanthes arbortristis Harsingar Flower
Anant pooja
90 Ocimum americanum Tulsi Whole plant Worshiped as sacred plant
91 Ocsimum basilicum Bobai Whole plant Makarsankrati pooja
92 Pheonix sylvestre Khajoor Fruit Addra nakshtra pooja
Aayal Ekadashi, Amlanaumi,
93 Phyllanthus amarus Bhui amla Whole plant Hartalika teej, Vad Savitri Puja,
Bar amavashya and Laxmi pooja
Aayal Ekadashi, Amlanaumi,
94 Phyllanthus emblica Amla Whole plant Hartalika teej, Vad Savitri Puja,
Bar amavashya and Laxmi pooja
Harchhath, Mangala Gauri, Anant
95 Piper betle Pan Leaves
and Druga pooja
96 Pithecelobium dulce Jangli Jalabi Pods Various poojas
97 Plumeria rubra Champa Flower Shivratri, Navratri pooja
98 Pongamia pinnata Karanj Flower Shivratri, Navratri pooja
99 Prosopis cineraria Shammi Whole plant Dasehra, Manglagauri pooja
100 Psidium guajava Amarood Fruit Various poojas
101 Punica granatum Anar Fruit Various poojas
102 Putranjiea roxburghii Putranjiwa Whole plant For gatting child
Devthan pooja, Ahoeashtami,
103 Saccharum officinarum Ganna Whole plant
Tulsi vivah

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194 Ruby Rai Duggal, S. K. Masih & R. P. Mishra

Table 2: Contd.,
104 Sacchrum spontaneum Kans, kansa Whole plant Harchhath and for decoration
105 Santalum album Chandan Stem Various poojas
Hartalica, Anant pooja,
106 Saraca asoca Ashok Whole plant
Ashokashtami
107 Schleichera oleosa Kusum Whole plant Various poojas
108 Semecarpus anacardium Bhilwa Whole plant During poojas
Shathtila Ekadashi, Makar
109 Sesamum idicum Til Seed
Sankranti and Til sankrarnti
110 Shorea robusta Sal Whole plant Worshiped as sacred plant
111 Smilax zeylanica Ramdaton Branch Various poojas and faste
112 Solanum xanthocarpum Bhatkatyia Whole plant Shiratri pooja
113 Sterculia urens Kullu Whole plant Kullu Deo pooja
114 Syzygium cumini Jamun Fruit Durga pooja
Tabernaemontana
115 Chadni Flower Various pooja
divaricata
116 Tamarindus indica Imli Whole plant During pooja
117 Tectona grandis Sagon Whole plant Worshiped as sacred plant
118 Tegetes erecta Genda Flower During various pooja
119 Termalelia alata Asna, Koha Whole plant Worshiped as sacred plant
120 Terminalia arjuna Arjun Whole plant Various poojas
121 Terminalia chebula Harra Whole plant Various poojas
122 Terminallia tomentosa Saja Whole plant Worshiped as sacred plant
123 Thespesia lampas Van kapas Fruit Various poojas
124 Thevetia peruviana pili kaner Flower Shivratri pooja
125 Thuja orientalis Mayurpankh Leaves Poojas
Diwali & other Poojas and to eat
126 Trapa bispinosa Singhada Seed
during faste
127 Woodfordia fruticosa Dhawai Flower Various poojas
Harchhath pooja and to eat during
128 Ziziphus nummularia Ber Fruit
faste
129 Zizyphus jujba Ber Branch, fruit Hal Shasthim and Harchhath

Figure 1: Plant Parts used in Religious Occations

CONCLUSIONS

It is evident from the present study that, the role of sacred groves is highly utilized as in-situ and ex-situ
conservation of plant resources. Most of the plant species and their diversity are protected by the local communities for the
nature conservation and socio-religious beliefs. These are the indicator of rich vegetation. One of the most important and
traditional significance of sacred groves is that, it acts as a repository for various medicines and multifarious utilizable

Impact Factor (JCC): 5.9857 NAAS Rating: 4.13

Biodiversity Conservation through Religious Belives in Sacred 195
Groves of Jabalpur Forest Division (Madhya Pradesh)

NTFPs, which are lacking in the surrounding forest areas. These plant species are well conserved in these graves, because
of the taboos and religious beliefs of local tribal communities. Sacred groves are also very important as a protected area to
various fauna species.

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